Interpreting the PTE Academic Score Report

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1. Get your scores

After taking the test, you will be notified by email when your PTE Academic scores are available
(typically within five business days from your test date). Using the online account you set up when you
registered for the test, you can view your results and then request to make them available to an
unlimited number of institutions of your choice.
The PTE Academic Score Report includes your overall score, communicative skills scores and enabling
skills scores.
1. The overall score reflects your
overall English language ability.
The score is based on
performance on all items in the
test.
The range for the overall score is
10-90 points.
2. Scores for communicative
skills (listening, reading,
speaking and writing) are based
on all test items that assess these
skills, either as a single skill or
together with other skills.

The range for each communicative

skill score is 10-90 points.
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3. Scores for enabling skills

(grammar, oral fluency,
pronunciation, spelling,
vocabulary and written discourse)
are based on all test items
assessing one or more of these
skills.
The range for each enabling skill
score is 10-90 points.
4. The display of the scores in a
graph allows you to quickly see
your strengths and weaknesses,
and how each skill relates to your
overall performance.

Example Test Taker Score Report

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2. Understand the PTE Academic Score Scale and the CEF

PTE Academic is aligned to the Common European Framework (CEF or CEFR). This is a widely
recognized benchmark for language ability developed by the Council of Europe (2001). The explanation
of this alignment is that to stand a reasonable chance at successfully performing any of the tasks
defined at a particular CEF level, you must be able to demonstrate that you can do the average tasks
at that level.
As you grow in ability, for example within the B1 level, you will become successful at doing even the
most difficult tasks at that level and will also find you can cope with the easiest tasks at the next level.
In other words, you are entering into the B2 level.
The table below shows PTE Academic scores aligned to the CEF levels A2 to C2. The dotted lines on the
scale show the PTE Academic score ranges that predict that you are likely to perform successfully on
the easiest tasks at the next higher level. For example, if you score 51 on PTE Academic, this means
that you are likely to be able to cope with the more difficult tasks in the CEF B1 level. At the same
time, according to your PTE Academic score, it predicts that you are likely to perform successfully on
the easiest tasks at B2.

Alignment of PTE Academic scores to CEF levels

3. Find out what PTE Academic scores mean

PTE Academic alignment with the CEF can only be fully understood if it is supported with information
showing what it really means to be at a level. In other words, are you likely to be successful with
tasks at the lower boundary of a level; do you stand a fair chance of doing well on any task, or will you
be able to do almost all the tasks, even the most difficult ones, at a particular level? The table below
shows for each of the CEF levels A2 to C2 which PTE Academic scores predict the likelihood of you
performing successfully on the easiest, average and most difficult tasks within each of the CEF levels.
PTE Academic scores predicting the likelihood of
successful performance on CEF level tasks
CEF Level

Easiest

Average

Most Difficult

C2
C1
B2
B1
A2

80
67
51
36
24

85
76
59
43
30

NA
84
75
58
42

For example, if your PTE Academic score is 36, this predicts that you will perform successfully on the
easiest tasks at B1. From 36 to 43, the likelihood of successfully performing the easiest tasks develops
into doing well on the average tasks at B1. Finally, reaching 58 predicts that you will perform well at
the most difficult B1 level tasks. (For detailed information on what PTE Academic scores in the range
from 10 to 84 (A1 to C1) mean, see the table on p.4).
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Education Ltd.

4. Find out what score you need

A score of at least 36 is required for UKBA tier 4 student visas for students wanting to study on a
course below degree level.
A score of at least 51 is required for UKBA tier 4 student visas for students wanting to study on a
course at or above degree level at an institution that is not a UK Higher Education Institution.
If you wish to study at degree level or above at a UK Higher Education Institution, then it is
the university that decides on the score you will need. Our experience suggests that most universities
require:
for undergraduate studies a minimum score between 51 and 61
for postgraduate studies a minimum score between 57 and 67
for MBA studies a minimum score between 59 and 69

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Use the table below to find out what PTE Academic scores in the range from 10 to 84 (A1 to C1) mean.
The table shows the score ranges that predict some degree of performance at the next level, and it
explains what you are likely to be able to do within those score ranges.
PTE

Common

Academic
Score

European
Framework
Level

76 - 84

59 - 75

51 58

43 - 58

36 42

30 - 42

10 - 29

C1

B2

Predicts
success on
easiest tasks
at B2

B1

Predicts
success on
easiest tasks
at B1

A2

A1 or below

Level Descriptor
Council of Europe

Can understand a wide range of demanding, longer

texts and recognise implicit meaning. Can express
him/herself fluently and spontaneously without much
obvious searching for expressions. Can use language
flexibly and effectively for social, academic and
professional purposes. Can produce clear, wellstructured, detailed text on complex subjects, showing
controlled use of organisational patterns, connectors
and cohesive devices.
Can understand the main ideas of complex text on both
concrete and abstract topics, including technical
discussions in his/her field of specialisation. Can interact
with a degree of fluency and spontaneity that makes
regular interaction with native speakers quite possible
without strain for either party. Can produce clear,
detailed text on a wide range of subjects and explain a
viewpoint on a topical issue giving the advantages and
disadvantages of various options.
Has sufficient command of the language to deal with
most familiar situations, but will often require repetition
and make many mistakes. Can deal with standard
spoken language, but will have problems in noisy
circumstances. Can exchange factual information on
familiar routine and non-routine matters within his/her
field with some confidence. Can pass on a detailed piece
of information reliably. Can understand the information
content of the majority of recorded or broadcast
material on topics of personal interest delivered in clear
standard speech.
Can understand the main points of clear standard input
on familiar matters regularly encountered in work,
school, leisure, etc. Can deal with most situations likely
to arise whilst in an area where the language is spoken.
Can produce simple connected text on topics, which are
familiar or of personal interest. Can describe
experiences and events, dreams, hopes and ambitions
and briefly give reasons and explanations for opinions
and plans.
Has limited command of language, but it is sufficient in
most familiar situations provided language is simple and
clear. May be able to deal with less routine situations on
public transport e.g., asking another passenger where
to get off for an unfamiliar destination. Can re-tell short
written passages in a simple fashion using the wording
and ordering of the original text. Can use simple
techniques to start, maintain or end a short
conversation. Can tell a story or describe something in a
simple list of points.
Can understand sentences and frequently used
expressions related to areas of most immediate
relevance (e.g., very basic personal and family
information, shopping, local geography, employment).
Can communicate in simple and routine tasks requiring
a simple and direct exchange of information on familiar
and routine matters. Can describe in simple terms
aspects of his/her background, immediate environment
and matters in areas of immediate need.
Can understand and use familiar everyday expressions
and very basic phrases aimed at the satisfaction of
needs of a concrete type. Can introduce him/herself and
others and can ask and answer questions about
personal details such as where he/she lives, people
he/she knows and things he/she has. Can interact in a
simple way provided the other person talks slowly and
clearly and is prepared to help.

What does this mean for a score

user?

C1 is a level at which a student can

comfortably participate in all post-graduate
activities including teaching. It is not required
for students entering university at
undergraduate level. Most international
students who enter university at a B2 level
would acquire a level close to or at C1 after
living in the country for several years, and
actively participating in all language activities
encountered at university.
B2 was designed as the level required to
participate independently in higher level
language interaction. It is typically the level
required to be able to follow academic level
instruction and to participate in academic
education, including both coursework and
student life.

B1 is insufficient for full academic level

participation in language activities. A student
at this level could get by in everyday
situations independently. To be successful in
communication in university settings,
additional English language courses are
required.

A2 is an insufficient level for academic level

participation.

A1 is an insufficient level for academic level

participation.

The copyright of the level descriptors reproduced in this document belongs to the Council of Europe.

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Pearson Education Ltd 2012. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the prior written permission of Pearson
Education Limited